Chardonnay

Chardonnay is an old white wine grape variety of French origin (Macon Burgundy). According to Viala and Vermorel (1909), Chardonnay has been known since the 14th century. Chardonnay is probably the most widely cultivated variety in the world (113000 ha) with cultivation centers France (35000 ha), USA (40000 ha), Australia (16800 ha), Italy (11800 ha), Chile (6700 ha), Moldavia (5400 ha), Argentina (3300 ha). In Greece (500 ha approximately), its cultivation is recommended for the viticultural areas of Peloponnese, Macedonia, Thrace, Prefectures of Attica, Viotia, Heraklion, Ioannina, Karditsa, Kefalonia, Lasithi, Larissa, Fthiotida and it is allowed in the viticultural areas of Dodecanese and Syros.
Because of the similarities in some ampelographic characters, Chardonnay was until recently mistakenly considered as a white variation of varieties Pinot noir and Melon.
Chardonnay is also known as Pinot Chardonnay, Pinot blanc Chardonnay, Melon blanc, Melon d’Arbois, Aubaine, Petit Sainte-Marie, Morilon blanc, Rousseau, Weisser Clevner and other names.